Practicing What I Preach: My Mindfulness Journey + Lessons from Coaching Women in Menopause

As a menopause wellness coach, I often talk about presence, awareness, and self-compassion. But it wasn’t until I committed to working the mindfulness coaching process on myself that I truly understood its depth and power. Mindfulness isn’t just a tool—it’s a practice that reshapes how we live, breathe, and relate to ourselves, especially during times of major transition like menopause.

What Happened When I Became My Own Client

At first, applying mindfulness to myself felt strange. I was used to guiding others—holding space, offering reflection, helping them notice their patterns. Turning that mirror inward required vulnerability and honesty. But as I moved through the process step-by-step, I began noticing subtle yet powerful shifts:

• I became more aware of how often I rushed through my day, even when I wasn’t in a hurry.

• I started pausing before reacting—whether in conversations, cravings, or moments of stress.

• I got curious about my internal chatter instead of judging it.

It wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t always pretty. But over time, I felt more grounded. I learned to sit with discomfort and to see it as a signal, not something to avoid. Mindfulness brought me back into my body, which—like so many women in midlife—I had disconnected from.

Guiding Real Women Through Mindfulness in Menopause

As I deepened my own practice, I also had the privilege of working with three incredible women over 40, each navigating menopause in her own unique way. Here’s what I learned through our work together:

1.

Body Acceptance in Menopause

Client #1 came to me feeling betrayed by her body. Weight gain, fatigue, and skin changes left her avoiding mirrors and dreading social events. Together, we explored mindful self-compassion and gentle body scan meditations.

Over time, she began noticing what her body could do, rather than just how it looked. She started moving daily—not to punish her body, but to celebrate it. The shift from criticism to curiosity changed everything. Her confidence began to bloom from the inside out.

2.

Mindful Nutrition & Movement Practices

Client #2 wanted to create a healthier routine but was tired of restrictive diets and punishing workouts. We brought mindfulness to her plate and her mat—starting with breathwork before meals and slow, intentional movement.

She began tuning into hunger cues, savoring her food, and finding joy in daily walks instead of chasing perfection. She realized that when she listened to her body with kindness, her choices naturally aligned with her health goals. Mindful eating became a form of self-respect—not a set of rules.

3.

Mental Health & Menopausal Mindfulness

Client #3 was facing heightened anxiety, mood swings, and sleep issues that often come with the hormonal shifts of menopause. She felt overwhelmed and emotionally raw. Our work centered around mindful emotional regulation—naming feelings, breathing through panic, and creating pockets of stillness in her day.

By learning to witness her thoughts instead of becoming them, she created space between the feeling and the reaction. That space became her power. She didn’t need to “fix” everything—just meet herself with awareness and compassion, moment by moment.

Mindfulness Is Not a Quick Fix—It’s a Lifelong Tool

Through these journeys—my own and my clients’—I’ve seen how mindfulness isn’t about being zen all the time. It’s about noticing when we’re not. It’s about coming back to ourselves again and again, even when we wander.

For women in menopause, this practice is transformative. It helps them reconnect with their bodies, regulate their emotions, and find meaning in the messiness. Mindfulness doesn’t erase the challenges—it empowers us to move through them with grace.

Final Thoughts

Menopause is not just a physical transition—it’s emotional, mental, and spiritual. Mindfulness gives us a compass during this time of change. Whether through breath, body awareness, or intentional living, this practice becomes a quiet revolution from within.

If you’re a woman in midlife feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or unsure of how to navigate this chapter, start by noticing. One breath. One moment. One small act of kindness toward yourself.

That’s where healing begins.